Over-hydration: it CAN happen!
When out getting exercise, some people will say that you can never drink enough water. Even when you're not that active and the weather is boiling, we are encouraged to stay properly hydrated. But "properly" is the key word here. Especially when you're engaged in physical activity like running or biking, keeping your body watered enough -- but not too much! -- is very important.Drinking too much can put you in a dangerous situation. Hyponatremia is the condition when sodium in your blood takes a dip in concentration. The symptoms start with nausea and headache, and can worsen if the condition becomes more serious.
To combat this condition, experts suggest using an accurate scale. By weighing yourself before and after exercise, you can see exactly how much water weight you've lost. If it's more than 2%, you didn't hydrate properly. Balancing hydration is not an exact science, but it is very important if you want to get the most out of your workouts.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-23-2006 @ 8:08AM
Willy said...
Roughly 1 in 5 hikers in the Grand Canyon need to be medivac'ed as a result of "water intoxication" (http://www.kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=3521442&nav=menu216_11). They drink so much water, and eat so little food, that it's becoming a problem. Remember to take snacks -- salty ones are best! -- to munch on along the way, so you don't get drunk on water, too!
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8-23-2006 @ 10:30AM
ksmith said...
We had to take a friend of mine to the hospital after hiking the G.C. b/c he was suffering from hyponatrimia. Fortunately, his case was pretty mild. A couple IV bags of saline solution set him right. They did keep him over night just to be sure. In the morning the doctor said that they typically see 25-30 cases a year, 8-10 are fatal. Scary stuff.
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